Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families,

Some updates for this week and upcoming events to mark down in your calendar. 

Reminder to all families that school begins at 7:50. Please try to drop off your student by 7:45 so that they can be in class ready to learn by 7:50. Thank you for your support in starting the day on time.

Home Connection: This week, we are focusing on reflecting on our Medal of Honor Character Development Core Values. Please review the Medal of Honor Core Values article in our Weekly Newsletter with your child. Which core values are they demonstrating in school or at home and which core values can they work on incorporating this week?

October 18, 2021 -

• 100-mile Club 2:15-2:45 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 
• Cross Country Practice 2:15-3:00pm

October 19, 2021 - 

• School Site Council Meeting @ 2:30 in the HDS Library
• (see newsletter for Agenda)
• Handbells 7/8th Practice 2:15-3:00pm 

• Mr. Rowland runs the amazing Harmonic Bronze (handbell program) at High Desert.  He starts with 6^th graders and continues with the students through High School.  Due to the pandemic, his numbers are very low.  If you have a 7^th or 8^th grader that is interested in joining handbells, Mr. Rowland said he would love for them to come next Tuesday from 2:05 – 3:00.  They meet in room 326.  If you have an interested 6^th grader, he has not started working with them yet.   

   If you are unfamiliar with the Harmonic Bronze group, I have included a link below.  The high school students have been accepted through a rigorous application process to perform on Christmas Eve at the Dorothy Chandler, in Los Angeles, 14 times! The link below is from the last live performance before the pandemic.  This group is incredible!  Enjoy!

  Harmonic Bronze 2019 - YouTube

  If you have any questions, you can email Mr. Rowland directly at lrowland@aadusd.k12.ca.us

October 20, 2021 - 

• HDS ELAC Meeting @ 8:30am in the HDS Library
• 100-mile Club 2:15-2:45 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 
• Cross Country Practice and Team Photos 2:15-3:00pm (students should bring their jerseys for the photo right after school)

October 21, 2021 -

• Great California ShakeOut

October 22, 2021 -

• Hawks Pride - Spirit Day - Wear school colors green and black
• Medal of Honor Character Awards Assembly
  5/6th @ 8 am, 7/8th @ 9am
  Invitations will be going home with students on Monday if your child is receiving an award.

Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Events

October 28, 2021 - 

• Cross Country Final Meet at Pelona Vista Park @ 2:45

October 29, 2021 - 

• Library Bookmark Due
• VFW Patriot’s Pen Due
• Halloween Dance 5:30-8pm

November 1, 2021 -

• NO SCHOOL

Don't forget about the SchoolStore Fundraiser happening now.

Have a great week and GO HAWKS!

Weekly Newsletter - Spanish

October 15, 2021

Dear High Desert Hawks and Families, 

Thank you for the continued support of our students and staff. We appreciate your partnership in helping to provide a safe school environment for our school community.  

Please see your e-mail regarding an important COVID-19 Vaccination Update.

COVID-19 Vaccination Update Letter - English

COVID-19 Vaccination Update Letter - Spanish

Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families,

HDS Booster Club is excited to introduce a fundraising opportunity for our school through SchoolStore. Attached is a copy of the letter and flyers about the program that were sent home with students today. We would love it if you would consider sharing about the fundraiser with friends and family and helping to support the school while purchasing items for yourself and your family. This is a SUPER fundraiser because it includes every type of item all in one. Check out our morning announcements from today, which include a video about the program.

VHS Mustangs Boys Basketball team will be hosting a FREE community basketball clinic on Saturday, Oct. 16th from 11:30am-3:00pm! 2nd through 8th graders are welcome! HDS basketball season is fast approaching and this would be a great opportunity for our students to brush up on their skills while learning new ones to get ready for tryouts this Winter.

Thank you to our Booster Club and VHS Boys Basketball for these great opportunities.

Have a great evening and Go Hawks! 

SchoolStore Flyer

VHS Basketball Clinic for Grades 2 thru 8

Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families,

Some updates for this week and upcoming events to mark down in your calendar as we finish out 1st Quarter on Friday, October 15th. 

Reminder to all families that school begins at 7:50. Please try to drop off your student by 7:45 so that they can be in class ready to learn by 7:50. Thank you for your support in starting the day on time.

Home Connection: This week, we are focusing on reflecting on our Medal of Honor Character Development Core Values. Please review the Medal of Honor Core Values article in our Weekly Newsletter with your child. Which core values are they demonstrating in school or at home and which core values can they work on incorporating this week?

October 11, 2021 -

• 100-mile Club 2:15-2:45 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 
• Cross Country Practice 2:15-3:00pm

October 12, 2021 - 

• Cross Country Practice 2:15-3:00pm
• Handbells 7/8th Practice 2:15-3:00pm 

• Mr. Rowland runs the amazing Harmonic Bronze (handbell program) at High Desert.  He starts with 6^th graders and continues with the students through High School.  Due to the pandemic, his numbers are very low.  If you have a 7^th or 8^th grader that is interested in joining handbells, Mr. Rowland said he would love for them to come next Tuesday from 2:05 – 3:00.  They meet in room 326.  If you have an interested 6^th grader, he has not started working with them yet.   

   If you are unfamiliar with the Harmonic Bronze group, I have included a link below.  The high school students have been accepted through a rigorous application process to perform on Christmas Eve at the Dorothy Chandler, in Los Angeles, 14 times! The link below is from the last live performance before the pandemic.  This group is incredible!  Enjoy!

  Harmonic Bronze 2019 - YouTube

  If you have any questions, you can email Mr. Rowland directly at lrowland@aadusd.k12.ca.us

October 13, 2021 - 

• 8th Grade PSAT from 8am-12pm in Room 328. Student Guides were sent home last week for help with how to prepare for the test.

October 14, 2021 -

• Cross Country Meet at Rosamond High School @ 3:30pm. Early dismissal for Cross Country team members is at 1:45pm. All students on the team must be signed out through the office.

October 15, 2021 -

• End of 1st Quarter
• Hawks Pride - Spirit Day - Wear school colors green and black

Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Events

October 19, 2021 - 

• School Site Council Meeting @ 2:30 in the HDS Library

October 20, 2021 - 

• HDS ELAC Meeting @ 8:30am in the HDS Library

October 22, 2021 - 

• HDS Medal of Honor Character Awards Assembly

Have a great week and GO HAWKS!

Weekly Newsletter - Spanish

Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families,

Some updates for this week and upcoming events to mark down in your calendar as we finish out 1st Quarter. 

Parent Support Needed: We are continuing to have concerns with a TikTok challenge that is affecting our school, specifically with the vandalization of our school bathrooms. We need parents' support in talking to your child about the negative effects of participating in this challenge. Not only does it damage school property, but it also costs time and money to repair and replace items in the bathrooms daily. This money could be much better spent on new things for the students rather than fixing items that are intentionally being stolen or damaged. Please talk with your child about not joining in this trend and we encourage anyone who knows of students who are participating to report it. 

October 4, 2021 -

• 100-mile Club 2:15-2:45 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 
• Cross Country Practice 2:15-3:00pm

October 5, 2021 - 

• Handbells 7/8th Practice 2:15-3:00pm
• Cross Country Practice 2:15-3:00pm

October 6, 2021 - 

• HDS Booster Club Meeting @ 8:30am in the HDS Library. Please see e-mail from the HDS Booster President for the Zoom link or join us in person.

October 7, 2021 - 

• ASB Activity at lunch - Tug of War
• Cross Country Meet at Marie Kerr Park in Palmdale @ 3:00pm. Early dismissal for Cross Country team members is at 1:40pm. All students on the team must be signed out through the office.

October 8, 2021 - 

• ASB Meeting
• Hawks Pride - Spirit Day - Wear school colors green and black

Mark Your Calendar for Upcoming Events

October 13, 2021 - 

• 8th Grade PSAT from 8am-12pm in Room 328. Student Guides are being sent home tomorrow for help with how to prepare for the test.

October 15, 2021 -

• End of 1st Quarter

October 19, 2021 - 

• School Site Council Meeting @ 2:30 in the HDS Library

October 20, 2021 - 

• HDS ELAC Meeting @ 8:30am in the HDS Library

Thank you in advance for your support in helping to keep our campus, clean, safe, and moving forward.

Have a great week and GO HAWKS!

Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families,

Some updates for this week. We are a little over halfway through 1st Quarter. 1st Quarter Progress Reports went home with students today. Please check with your child to see their progress report.

Parent Support Needed: We have become aware of a TikTok challenge that is affecting our school, specifically with the vandalization of our school bathrooms. We need parents' support in talking to your child about the negative effects of participating in this challenge. Not only does it damage school property, but it also costs time and money to repair and replace items in the bathrooms daily. This money could be much better spent on new things for the students rather than fixing items that are intentionally being stolen or damaged. Please talk with your child about not joining in this trend and we encourage anyone who knows of students who are participating to report it. 

September 27, 2021 -

• 100-mile Club 2:15-2:45 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Congratulations to Chris Larson, Emily Lewis, Linnea Galbreath and Stephanie Dawson for achieving their first 25 miles.
• Cross Country Practice 2:15-3:00pm
• 5th Grade Outdoor Science School Meeting at 6pm in Room 321. We encourage all parents to attend this meeting tonight. This is the Zoom link for those wishing to join via Zoom.

September 28, 2021 - Handbells for 7/8th at 2:15pm

• Attention all High Desert School Seventh and Eighth Grade Students … Harmonic Bronze Handbell Ensemble is hoping that you will be excited to join our music group and become part of HDS history.  The seventh and eighth grade group practices after school on Tuesdays from 2:15 – 3:00 P.M.  There is no cost for participating in the program.  Also, you do not have to have any prior music background.  If interested, please simply show up to Room 326 starting Tuesday, September 21- which is one of the trailers located on the basketball courts.  If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact Mr. Rowland in Room 314 and even visit our handbell website at harmonicbronze.com – hope to see you on Tuesdays!

September 28, 2021 - Volleyball Practice 2:15-4:15 in HDS MPR

September 29, 2021 - Cross Country Practice 2:15-3:30pm

September 30, 2021 - Last Volleyball Practice 2:15-4:15pm in HDS MPR

October 1, 2021 - Fall Picture Retake Day

• For students who missed photos on registration days in August or would like to retake their individual student photo, retake/make-up pictures will be taken for the yearbook this Friday.

Thank you in advance for your support in helping to keep our campus, clean, safe, and moving forward.

Have a great week and GO HAWKS!

Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families,

We are halfway through 1st Quarter already. Teachers are working on submitting progress report grades and they will be sent home to parents early next week. Please check Aeries for the latest grades information for your student.

September 20, 2021 - Cross Country Practice 2:15-3:30

• Jerseys will be handout out at Practice today. 
• Please make sure that all Athletic Clearance paperwork has been submitted so that team members can participate in the first Cross Country Meet on Wednesday.

September 21, 2021 - Handbells for 7/8th Begins at 2:15pm

• Attention all High Desert School Seventh and Eighth Grade Students … Harmonic Bronze Handbell Ensemble is hoping that you will be excited to join our music group and become part of HDS history.  The seventh and eighth grade group practices after school on Tuesdays from 2:15 – 3:00 P.M.  There is no cost for participating in the program.  Also, you do not have to have any prior music background.  If interested, please simply show up to Room 326 starting Tuesday, September 21- which is one of the trailers located on the basketball courts.  If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact Mr. Rowland in Room 314 and even visit our handbell website at harmonicbronze.com – hope to see you on Tuesdays!

September 21, 2021 - Volleyball Practice 2:15-4:15 in HDS MPR

September 22, 2021 - First Cross Country Meet at Pelona Vista Park in Palmdale

• 3:30pm 8th boys and girls
• 3:55pm 7th boys and girls
• 4:20pm 6th boys and girls

September 23, 2021 - ASB Spirit Day - Shrek Day

• Pin the tail on the donkey activity at lunch.

September 23, 2021 - Volleyball Practice 2:15-4:15 and Picture Day 

• The Volleyball teams will take team photos at 3:45pm during practice. Parents are welcome to come at 3:45 to take photos also.

September 24, 2021 - Cross Country Practice 2:15-3:30

September 27, 2021 - 5th Grade Outdoor Science School Parent Meeting at 6pm in Room 321. 

•  Zoom Link will also be available on Monday

Reminder to all students about the importance of being kind to one another. As we all get back into school mode and get used to being around all of the other students again, many middle school students begin to notice differences in each other. Please remind your child to be kind to everyone, even those students who may not be their best friends. "One kind word can change someone's entire day." HDS Staff challenges our students to make someone's day by being kind this week.

Have a great week and GO HAWKS!

Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families,

Here are your Hawk Happenings for the Week of September 13th.

September 14, 2021 - Grades 6, 7, 8 Florida Trip Parent Meeting @6pm

•  Are you interested in swimming with dolphins, petting sea turtles, and visting the everglades. Join Ms. Alford Walsh in Room 308 at 6pm for a parent meeting about the Florida Trip in the Spring of 2022.
• If you can't attend in person, please join via Zoom using the following link.

September 14, 2021 - PSAT Registration for the PSAT 8/9 Exam DUE

• The PSAT 8/9 exam provides 8th graders with the opportunity to practice for the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT exams. Students can utilize their score reports by connecting with Khan Academy for free personalized SAT test prep, linking with the career finder tool through College Board, and/or learning skills and areas in which they need more practice.
• This year our school has been selected to participate in the study program through College Board so all exam fees have been waived. Students planning to take the PSAT 8/9 exam need to complete the attached registration form and submit it to the front office by Tuesday, September 14th.
• The PSAT 8/9 Exam will take place during school on Wednesday, October 13th.

September 15, 2021 - HDS Cross Country Meeting 2:15-2:45

• Are you interested in joining the Cross Country Team? There is a meeting for students after school on Wednesday in the HDS Library. All interested students are invited!

September 17, 2021 - HAWKS Spirit Day

• Wear school colors and show off your Hawks Pride.

September 21, 2021 - Handbells for 7/8th Begins at 2:15pm

• Attention all High Desert School Seventh and Eighth Grade Students … Harmonic Bronze Handbell Ensemble is hoping that you will be excited to join our music group and become part of HDS history.  The seventh and eighth grade group practices after school on Tuesdays from 2:15 – 3:00 P.M.  There is no cost for participating in the program.  Also, you do not have to have any prior music background.  If interested, please simply show up to Room 326 starting Tuesday, September 21- which is one of the trailers located on the basketball courts.  If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact Mr. Rowland in Room 314 and even visit our handbell website at harmonicbronze.com – hope to see you on Tuesdays!

September 21, 2021 - Volleyball Practice Resumes 

September 23, 2021 - Volleyball Picture Day

High Desert has new drinking fountains that have a nozzle for water bottle refills. Please have your student bring a refillable water bottle to school daily if possible. 

Have a great week and GO HAWKS!

HDS 8th Grade PSAT Registration

Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families,

Welcome Aboard our Flight into Virtual Back to School Night! I am your principal, Mrs. Van Ornum. I want to welcome all of you to an exciting new year. Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us! We are happy to have you aboard and are excited for a great year! 

Click the link to enter our Virtual Back to School Night. Enter the terminal and meet all of our Travel Agents. Next stop is baggage claim. Click the travel sticker to locate your travel agent. Then click the Flight Plan/Subject Area and hear important details about how to make this year one for the history books! When you are ready for the next travel destination, head back over to baggage claim. At the end of your travels, stop by and sign our guestbook or e-mail your travel agent with any questions you may have. 

https://bit.ly/HDSBTSN2021

On behalf of the HDS staff, we hope you enjoy and find the presentations helpful. Enjoy the rest of your evening as we are Making History! Go Hawks!

August 30, 2021

Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families

We are super excited to begin our first full week of school! Here are some events happening this week!

August 30, 2021 - 100 mile Club Begins

• Mrs. Botton will be having meetings with students in the MPR at both lunches to share more details about the kickoff to this great program. Did you know that an average person completes 2,000 steps in a mile? Remember that every mile is earned, never given. How will you get your miles in this week?

August 31, 2021 - Volleyball Practice 2:15 - 4:15 in MPR

• Reminder that all students will need to have their Athletic Clearance completed prior to attending the practice.
• Students should wear athletic clothes, kneepads, and bring plenty of water. Players will need to wear their masks while they are indoors, including during practice.

September 1, 2021 - HDS Booster Club Meeting @ 8:30 in the HDS Library

• Parents, please join us for our first Booster Club meeting of the school year.

September 2, 2021 - Back to School Night and Minimum Day

• Student Dismissal is at 11:55am on Thursday, September 2nd
• First lunch activity - Musical Chairs using music of the decades
• Back to School Night details will follow in a separate message.

September 3, 2021 - School Spirit Day

• Be sure to show your Hawk Spirit on Friday by wearing school colors.

September 6, 2021 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

September 14, 2021 - Florida Trip Parent Meeting @ 5:45pm in Room 308

Parent Support Needed for Committees

• The following committees are looking for parents to join and give input as we plan for this year and next year. If you are interested in one of these committees, please contact Mrs. Van Ornum at mvanornum@aadusd.k12.ca.us 
• School Site Council (SSC) - Four meetings (10/19, 12/7, 2/15, 4/5)
• PBIS (Schoolwide Behavior Planning Committee) - Four trainings/meetings (9/7, 10/5, 1/11, 3/8) 

Additional Important Reminders

Independent Study

If you are interested in Independent Study and have not already completed the Independent Study Contract, please see the attachment in your e-mail. Please note that students with IEPs may not be placed on Independent Study without an IEP meeting.

Face Coverings

A reminder that face coverings (face mask or face shield) are required indoors by state and county mandate. 

Self Screening

Although we are not doing screening or temperature checks to enter the campus, we are asking that you self-screen at home. Please see the attached flyer for more information about self-screening.

Pick up and Drop Off

• For drop-off, please see the attached diagram. Students will be dropped off at the entrance gate to the parking lot and will continue down to the blacktop. Parents will proceed down Antelope Woods Rd. They will pull into the bus loop and follow it around to exit.
• For pick-up, parents will follow the same procedure. Students will wait on the sidewalk area for their ride and parents will follow through the bus loop to exit after picking up their students.
• Parents, please DO NOT make a U-turn. It is unsafe to do so in front of the school and causes traffic back up. Also, please be sure that you drop off your student at the first gate. There isn’t supervision in other places and it is not safe for students to be walking through the parking lot.

Food Services

Please share with your child about the importance of nutrition. All students should be eating during the school day. Our amazing food services team prepares food for break and lunch and the food is free of charge for this school year. We strongly encourage students to eat. It will fuel their bodies and minds for the long school days.

Transportation

For Questions regarding transportation, please contact Natasha Williams at the district office (661) 269-5802 or email nwilliams@aadusd.k12.ca.us 

Have a great evening and GO HAWKS!

Hawk Happenings - Aug. 30th - English

Hawk Happenings - Aug. 30th - Spanish